At the end of 2024, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) opened a public consultation on the draft Law on the Safety of Hazardous Chemicals. This consultation recently concluded on January 23, 2025, and responses are now under review.
Some of the key features of the new draft are as follows:
- On-site and online inspections using IT-enabled tools for monitoring major hazards.
- Clearer roles for supervisory authorities, including public security, emergency management and market regulation.
- Implementation of electronic labeling and digital lifecycle management for hazardous chemicals.
- Users of hazardous chemicals must establish robust safety management systems and ensure employees are trained in emergency response protocols.
- Tighter controls for highly toxic chemicals, including prohibitions on online transactions and strict licensing and documentation requirements.
- Exemptions for Low-Risk Chemicals will apply as well as for hazardous chemicals used in research, trial production, or marketing that pose low risk may be exempted, subject to further guidelines from relevant authorities.
The purpose of the new law is to strengthen the safe management of hazardous chemicals throughout their lifecycle, from production to disposal. If approved, it will replace Decree 591, China’s current law for the safe management of hazardous chemicals.
Further updates on the development of the draft are expected in the coming months.
Published February 27th, 2025
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